Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/402

 S74 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

in whofe hands at lead three thoufand fubjedls of Sennaar, and their efFeds, are at this moment. I fay to you now, as I did to your mafter in the morning, that he cannot either rob or murder me at Teavva without all your nation being refponfible for it, wherever they ihall go. But I am not a iheep, or a lamb, to be fpoiled of my goods, or robbed of my life, without defending myfelf to the utmofl ; and I tell you, for your proper inftru6tion, that there are probably now at Sennaar, people from the king of Abyffinia, com- plaining of my being detained here, and demanding ju- ■ilice.

He feemed to pay no attention to this threat. He did •not think it poffible that I could have had any communica- tion with Ras el Feel fmce I came to Teawa, but declared, that, as my particular friend, he had calmed the Shekh's wrath, and obliged him to promife, that, for 2000 piaftres, he would difpatch me in two days to Sennaar. Indeed, Hagi Soliman, faid I, I have not 20 piaftres in the world to give either him or you, nor would I give them if I had them. The Shekh may take all that I have by force, and is welcome to try the experiment. You, as his friend and fol- dier, may command the party, if you pleafe ; but I am re- -folved, were he willing, never to leave Teawa till I depart, under the condudl of another man than one of your or of Shekh Fidele's chufmg. Upon my faying this, he arofe, Ihook the bofom of his cloak, and faid, he was foiTy for it ; but he w allied his hands of all the confequences.

Immediately after this we fliut our tloors ; and our fire- arms being cleaned, loaded, and primed, v.-c relblved to a- foide the ifliic of this bad affair in the beft manner poffible, 4 and